The Ready Steady Gallop project being run by the Hamilton Business Improvement District (BID) is designed to attract visitors into the town, and get locals visiting areas they don’t normally go to.

Hamilton’s mass participation art event, which will see 30 Clydesdale horse statues creating a trail around the area, has already attracted interest from more than 70 artists.

The Ready Steady Gallop project being run by the Hamilton Business Improvement District (BID) is designed to attract visitors into the town, and get locals visiting areas they don’t normally go to. It hinges on the quality of the art involved.

Each Clydesdale horse will be uniquely painted, and similar projects in other towns and cities have seen clever designs based on the location of the statue, the heritage of the area or popular characters.

The project is funded by businesses in Hamilton and elsewhere, who sponsor a horse. A number of businesses have already signed up, including the Regent Shopping Centre, Banks Property Development in Hamilton and Edinburgh-based wind turbine manufacturer Senvion UK.

He said: “We’re now urging any other businesses or organisations keen to get involved to make contact quickly as horses are rapidly being allocated and designed, ready to be placed in high-profile locations in the town and surrounding area.”

Bill Reid, centre manager at the Regent Shopping Centre, added: “We are really proud to be involved in Ready Steady Gallop as it’s such a landmark event for the area. The project is set to really put Hamilton on the map. The designs already submitted for the horses are very impressive and we’re looking forward to the Regent horse taking pride of place on the trail.”

The horses will be ready by summer this year, and will be displayed for 10 weeks.

Local school children will be inspired and guided to get involved with their own versions of the sculptures, and the horses will be auctioned off at the end of the project, with proceeds going to Kibryde Hospice.

A trail in Bristol which featured differently decorated statues of popular character Gromit, reportedly boosted the city’s economy by £123 million.